Spinning frames



May 22, 1962 L. M. COTCHETT SPINNING FRAMES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March30, 1959 May 22, 1962 COTCHETT 3,035,314

SPINNING FRAMES Filed March so, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United StatesPatent 3,035,314 SPINNKNG FRAMES Louis M. Cotchett, deceased, late ofWhitman, Mass, by

Marjorie H. Cotchett, executrix, Whitman, Mass., assignor, by mesneassignments, to Machinecraft, lino, Whitman, Mass., a corporation ofMassachusetts Filed Mar. 30, 1959, Ser. No. 803,032 ldClaims. (Cl.19-294) This invention relates to spinning :and roving frames, and moreparticularly to the construction and mounting of the bottom drawingrolls which extend the full length of the frame and with theirco-engaging top rolls are used in the drafting of the yarns being spun.

In order to grip and draw out the fibers, the top rolls are weighted tobear with very considerable pressure against their corresponding bottomrolls; at the front or delivery rolls, the burden which the front bottomrolls must bear often amounts to around 30 lbs. of weighting applied byeach of the 120 or so front top rolls, with about half this weightadditionally applied by each middle and back top roll to thecorresponding middle and back bottom rolls, on cotton, and double thisweighting through out on other fibers. Hence the friction arising intheir bearings is a factor of great importance in the power load andeconomy of 4a yarn mill.

One important object of the invention is to provide antifriotionbearings for the bottom rolls which will save power, eliminate theoiling nuisance, and make the bearings capable of taking heavy weightingwithout early failure. In the case of the hitherto standard constructionusing plain bearings for the bottom rolls, such weighting compels theapplication of lubricating oil, which must be used with the utmostforbearance to prevent it leaking and creeping from the bearings ontothe bosses of the bottom rolls and thence onto the stock being drawn,the aprons, and cots of the top rolls with extremely harmful effect. Thepresence of the oil even when applied with the greatest restraintresults in the collection of lint and fly in the bearings, which wastespower, and checks the steady rotation of the rolls with resultingimpairment of the yarn quality.

Hence it is necessary to scour the bottom rolls periodically, to cleanthe lint and gummed and oxidized oil out of the bearings. To do this,the bottom rolls must be removed from the roll stands, entailing muchlabor and a prolonged shut-down of the frame, with attendant loss ofproduction.

Again, when a bottom apron breaks, in a long-draft spinning frame, itcannot be replaced without pulling out the middle bottom roll shaftinvolved, to slip the endless apnon on via the end of the roll shaft. Asa temporary repair, to serve until a scouring time is reached, apiecedup apron is put around the bottom roll, which expedient does notequal the quality of the work done by the original endless apron.

The cumulative friction drag on the prior type bottom rolls in plainbearings causes whip or uneven rotation at the end of the rolls 30 to 40feet from the head end of the frame where the drive is applied. Thisuneven roll speed makes bad yarn. The friction also leads to back bottomroll and draft gear chatter at slow speeds under heavy weighting,likewise making bad yarn.

Anti-friction bearings have been tried heretofore for the support of thebottom rolls, but have been unsatisfactory and impracticable becausethey failed prematurely, mainly through failure to allow the bottomrolls to find their own centers of rotation. The bearings could notstand the unfair strains incident to misalignment, when added to theirworking loads of up to two tons total, for the front roll, for example.The bottom rolls were in effect rig-id shafts as long 'as the frame, andthe manner of setting up the roll stands on the spinning frame, bystretching a wire along the frame and setting the individual roll standsthereto by sight alone, through the laborious process of filing andfitting and shimming the roll stands, failed to attain the alignment ofthe several roll bearings of each bottom roll as accurately as thebearings required for proper running. Continuous charges in the level ofthe floor supporting the frames and caused by changing humidity and theweights imposed on'the floors further made alignment impossible.

In the present invention, to do away with the need for perfectalignment, as was required in prior anti-friction bottom roll mountingarrangements, all three lines of bottom rolls are interrupted anddivided up into many separate short lengths, each one roll section along(the distance between two roll stands, usually about 2 feet), hereinserving six spindles, with the respective lengths of each roll connectedby driving devices acting as universal joints so as to be rotated inunison, while permitting the sections to be out of line or angularlydisposed to each other.

To allow for slight movement incident to such jointed mounting, thebearing blocks in which the bottom rolls are mounted are made of nylon,and thus are inherently resilient. This material has a special virtue,in that it damps out the vibration of the bottom roll shafts and theirbearing parts, such vibration among other objections being the source ofan appreciable part of the unpleasant noise made by spinning frames.

Double bearings are provided in each bearing block and respectivelyaccommodate each of the two ends of adjacent sections of the bottomrolls which meet and are coupled together within the bearing block. Allbearings are :of spherical type or otherwise contrived to beselfaligning so as to allow for departures from coaxial relation of theadjacent sections. The term self-aligning defines a bearing in which aninner element thereof coaxial with the roll is free to vary the angle ofits axis with respect to an encircling non-rotating outer element whichsupports it. These better bearings permit higher roll speeds and heavierweighting, for greater production.

The flexible driving connection between the successive lengths of thenow interrupted bottom rolls is simply and easily effected byintervening couplings bearing tongues standing at right angles on theirrespective opposite faces and engaging with corresponding grooves in themeeting ends of the roll sections and acting as universal joints.

The present novel construction makes one or both ends of all theindividual bottom roll sections quickly and easily separable for thereplacement of broken bottom aprons by regular continuous aprons, withno need for temporary ones of inferior performance. The use of oil forbeating lubrication is replaced by grease applied through grease gunfittings and the ire-lubrication cycle is extended to months or yearsinstead of being a weekly task. Bottom roll replacement because of wearat their bearings is eliminated, and important reductions in replacementof these and other bearings, roll stands, gear studs, and gears areattained. Periodic re-alignment of the bottom rolls is not needed.Lint-picking'cycles are also extended, through absence of oil to collectlint. Since each individual roll section revolves accurately on its ownaxis, the bosses thereon rotate about their exact axes, giving uniformsurface speed and better drawing of the strand. Scouring of the bottomrolls is eliminated, except for cleaning the flutes of the bosses, withgreat saving of shut-down time and labor cost.

An additional benefit is that the new-flexible jointing of the rolls atthe end of each roll section makes possible the use of much lighter rollstands, cheaper and easier to make.

The whole new construction is quicker and easier to install in eithernew or old spinning frames, particularly because it reduces thenecessity for the accurate alignment of all roll stands by use of wiresand filing and fitting as compelled when the prior rigid bottom rollsare used.

Other objects of the invention, and the manner of their attainment, areas set forth hereinafter.

Illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanyingdrawings, in which FIG. 1 is a vertical transverse section through theroller beam and bottom rolls of a spinning frame, showing the improvedbearings in section also.

FIG. 2 is a vertical section on line 22 of FIG. 1, with the top rollsalso indicated.

FIG. 3 is a vertical section on line 33 of FIG. 1, with the top rollsalso indicated.

FIG. 4 is a vertical section on line 44 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the bearing for the back bottom roll.

FIG. 6 is a section on line 66 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the universal joint coupling.

The bottom rolls are each made up of a plurality of lengths each nolonger than a roll section. The end of each length 31, 33, of the frombottom roll is received in a bearing fixed on a roll stand 17 bolted at13 through its foot 11 to the roller beam 15, and as shown in FIG. 7 isslotted transversely at 26 to receive a transversely extending tongue 27formed on each side of a circular key or dog 29 interposed between themeeting ends of the two lengths 3 1, 33, of the bottom roll. The tongues27 of each dog are 90 apart about the axis of the dog, which acts as auniversal joint driving one section 31 from the other section 33 whilepermitting both lateral and angular disalignment of the axes of the twolengths of roll throughout 360 of rotation. Thus the bearings are sparedthe destructive strains arising from running a continuous or rigid shaftthrough bearings that are out of line.

Each of the three bottom rolls is carried in its proper bearing appliedto and fixed on each roll stand 17. Thus, the adjacent ends of rolllengths 3'1 and 33 are each received within a spherical and henceself-aligning antifriction bearing composed of a double set of bearingballs 39 rolling between cones 41 on the end of each roll length andcomplementary part-spherical cups 43, symmetrically disposed, held in asemi-circular seat 45, FIG. 1, formed therefor in a bearing block 47made of nylon, preferably by molding. A semi-circular cap 49 stampedfrom metal retains both double bearings in the block 47. The cap mayalso be made of nylon if preferred.

To exclude lint and dust from the bearing balls, as well as to preventthe escape of grease from the bearing, and keep out air which oxidizesthe lubricant, each side of the bearing is sealed by an annular nylonwasher 51 retained within the flanges 53 of cap 49 and correspondingflanges 55 on the bearing block 47. The internal diameter of each washer51 is less than the diameter of the roll ends lying within the bearings.A low bead 56 and a rounded groove 57 are formed on the roll lengths 31,33 just outside the bearing. The washer bears against the bead andextends down into the groove. The flexibility and elasticity of thecomponent nylon permit the washer to be sprung over the end of each rolllength to seat in the groove 57. The natural contraction and resilienceof the nylon forming the washer keep it thereafter in close sealingcontact with the wall of the groove 57. The tendency of the fibers oflint and fly to wrap themselves around the smallest available diameterof a rotating part causes them to seek the bottom of groove 57 and stayaway from the washer.

The pair of cups 43 of each double spherical bearing is held apart fromits companion pair and pressed against its respective washer 51, bymeans of a ring 59 of neoprene or other suitable resilient materialserving as a spacer spring. In this manner the two cups 43 of eachspherical bearing are yieldingly held together and the inward cone 41 iskept from harmful engagement with the dog 29 which connects the meetingends of each pair of roll lengths 3'1, 33, carried by the respectiveroll stands. By the same means the outward cone 41 of each bearing isheld against bead 56 adjacent it.

The nylon bearing block or body 47 for the front bottom roll is boltedto the bed 1 of roll stand 17 by a cap screw 61 threaded into the body,and whose washer 63 takes bearing against the under sides of a slot 65in the bed 1. The sides of this slot 65 are turned up as shown in FIG. 3to form flanges 67, and appropriate slots to receive these flanges areformed in the bottom of bearing body 47. An apron 69 on the front end ofbody 47 normally abuts against the ends of side flanges 3 of the bed 1,and is formed with a pair of transversely spaced bosses 71 for thereception of screws 73 which go through lugs on cap 49 to hold thelatter in place. The construction admits of adjustment of the entirebearing and thus of the front bottom roll forwardly by manipulation ofclamping screw 61 along slot 65.

The middle and back bottom drawing rolls 35, 37, are similarly contrivedin separate lengths each one roll section long, keyed together by dogs29 in the manner already described, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 7. The twoends 75, 77, FIG. 3, of the middle roll thus joined at mid-width of eachroll stand 1 are supported rotatably in bearing liners 79 havingsemi-cylindrical interiors extending half-way around the end portions75, 77, and in supporting engagement therewith, and havingpart-spherical exterior surfaces of a radius equalling the distance fromtheir exterior surfaces to the axis of the part 75 or 77, received incorrespondingly shaped grooves 81 in the body 83 of the bearing member.The spherical self-aligning type of bearing thus contrived for each ofthe adjacent ends permits disalignment of the axes of the two adjacentroll lengths without undue strain on the bearings. Both the bearingliners 79 and the bearing body 83 are preferably made of nylon orequivalent plastic, as by molding, and on account of the low coefiicientof friction of this material the bearing surfaces of both require littleor no applied lubricant.

Middle bearing block 83 is fixed in its working position by a cap screw85 put through slot 65 in the bed 1 and threaded into the block andsupplied with a washer 87 bridging the slot. Suitable rabbets 89 receivethe flanges 67 at the sides of slot 65 so that these flanges serve asguides for holding the bearing true as it is adjusted along the slot ofbed 1 in varying the roll setting to meet the requirements of diflerentstaples of fibers being drawn. As in the case of the front bearing block47, the lateral portions of the bearing block fit closely upon theshoulders at the lateral edges of the bed 1.

The middle roll hearing has a metal cap 90 attached by screws 91 fixingits two lugs to bosses 93 on the base, and nylon lint seals 95 likethose shown at 51 on the front roll bearing are provided to exclude lintand dirt from the bearing surfaces. These seals bear against the outersurfaces of integral beads 97 which like the beads 56 of the front rollare about greater in diameter than the bearing surfaces 75, 77, and bearon the sides of grooves 99 formed between the beads and the knurledbosses 101 of the rolls.

The double hearing which at each roll stand supports the flexiblycoupled meeting ends of the successive roll lengths, each one rollsection long, forming the back bottom roll 37, FIG. 1, is substantiallysimilar in all respects to the middle bottom roll bearing justdescribed, and shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The differences are that thebearing block 103, fixed in place by cap screw 105 passing through slot65, has the two bosses 107 receiving the retaining screws 109 for cap110 located on its front surface. Also, a bracket 111 is formed on itsrear surface to define a slot 113 in which the traverse bar (not shown)reciprocates. The same type of nylon bearing liners 115 is provided asis shown in FIG. 3. In adjusting the back roll rearwardly, movement ofbearing block 103 is not limited by the length of flanges'67, but onlyby the shank of screw 105 bringing up against the end of slot 65.

It is also contemplated to use angular contact ball bearings at allthree lines of bottom rolls, instead of the spherical types of ballbearings or nylon bearing liners, in cases where greater weighting orroll speeds make it desirable, as in drafting some synthetic fibers.

An example of such arrangement is shown in FIGS. and 6, where it isapplied to the back bottom roll. This arrangement differs from that ofFIGS. 1 and 2 in that the pairs of symmetrically arranged ball bearings131, 133, FIG. 6, applied to the meeting ends of adjacent back bottomroll sections 135, 137, respectively, are of angular instead ofspherical type. To provide for axial disaligninent between the twosections, the radius of the ball tracks of the inside and outside ballraces of each bearing is made greater than the radius of the ballsrolling therein, and the four races on the end of each roll length areyieldably held in bearing block 139 and cap 141 thereof, by resilientwashers 143- of neoprene or other synthetic rubber, which provide forsome small amount of movement of the ball races axially of the bottomrolls to accommodate changes of angle of the axis of each roll withrespect to its bearing block and hence of the roll sections with respectto each other. The outer washers push the outside ball races axiallytoward each other, while the cones are held apart by a metal spacer 144,and thus establish the bearing tension. A lint sealing gasket 145 ofnylon bears against one side of a bead 147 on each roll, being pressedthereagainst and against the lip 149 formed on the bearing block 139 andcontinued in cap 141, to retain grease and shut out lint and fly.

The back of bearing block 139 is provided with an extension 151 defininga slot 153 in which the traverse rail 155 slides transversely to moveits trumpet 157 back and forth along the bosses of the drawing rolls.

Any roll section can be removed with its bearings and parts in place, bymerely removing the bearing caps at its ends. Thus new aprons arequickly applicable to the middle roll in long-draft systems.

The usual back bar 117, FIGS. 1 and 4, for guiding the roving into therolls is provided, but instead of being continuous throughout aplurality of roll sections it is cut up into lengths one roll sectionlong, like the bottom rolls. The two ends which thus confront or meeteach other on the median longitudinal plane of each roll stand bed 1 areeach mounted in a comformably shaped hollow in the ends of the arms of aU-shaped bracket 119 by means of cap screws 121 extending throughlongitudinal slots 123, FIG. 1, in the rear end of bed 1. These screwsalso pass through the web of the U-shaped bracket K119 and are threadedpartway through the end portions or" the two back bars 117, thusaffixing the latter in spaced relation to the roll stands.

The foregoing novel construction attains the leading aim of theinvention of providing anti-friction bearings for the bottom rolls whichare capable of carrying the heaviest roll Weighting. They require littleor no applied lubricant. Very material saving in the power required todrive the frame is effected, especially when ball bearing top rolls areused. The improved structure also liberates the ball bearings from theunfair burden and consequent rapid destruction resulting from inherentdisalignment of the bearings with respect to the heretofore rigid bottomrolls. It provides for quick replacement of broken aprons. Finally, thestructure devised for these purposes is simple, inexpensive, stronger,easy to adjust for different roll settings, more positive in holding thesettings, quicker to install, and versatile in that it is adapted to beeasily modified to suit different existing makes and types of spinningframes, in modernizing them and converting them to longdraft forincreased production.

Because the bearings are relieved of strains, the roll stands can bemade of flat stock and sheet metal of standard commercial dimensions,lighter and less costly, with greatly reduced need for accuracy in theirformation, as well as in installation. Such a stand is shown in FIG. 1.

While there are illustrated and described certain forms in which theinvention may be embodied, it is possible that many modifications maybemade therein by any person skilled in the art, without departing fromthe scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore, it isnot desired to be limited to the particular forms shown or to thedetails of construction thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, roll stands, bottom roll lengths extending just fromone roll stand to the next, ball bearings of self-aligning typesurrounding the outside of the roll lengths at each end thereof andmounted on the roll stands, and driving means coupling one end of eachbottom roll length to its adjacent bottom roll length and compellingrotation in unison while permitting axial disalignment thereof, andmeans yieldingly urging apart the bearings at the coupled ends and intospaced relation to the driving means.

2. The combination according to claim 1 in which the bearings aremounted in nylon bearing blocks fixed on the roll stands.

3. The combination according to claim 1 in which the bearings are ofspherical type each supporting one of the adjacent ends of two separatelengths of a bottom roll.

4. In combination, bottom rolls, roll stands comprising base portionsand bearing supporting surfaces, bottom roll bearing blocks on thelatter made of resilient plastic and serving all bottom rolls, ballbearings supporting the front bottom roll in its bearing blocks, andplastic bearing liners having part-spherical exterior surfaces and oflow coefiicient of friction supporting the remaining bottom rolls intheir respective bearing blocks and relatively movable therein.

5. In a spinning or roving frame, in combination, roll stands, bottomdrawing rolls composed of lengths each one roll section long and meetingat the roll stands, universal joint means connecting adjacent lengths toturn in unison and with their axes disaligned, and angular contact ballbearings having their ball races resiliently mounted on the roll standsand supporting the respective meeting ends of such lengths.

6. The combination according to claim 5 in which the ball races aremounted on the adjacent ends of the roll lengths between axially spacedresilient elements.

7. In a spinning or roving frame, in combination, bottom drawing rollscomposed of lengths each one roll section long, universal joint meansconnecting adjacent lengths to turn in unison and with their axesdisaligned, roll stands, nylon bearing blocks fixed on the roll stands,and ball bearings in the blocks supporting the proximate ends ofadjacent lengths.

8. In spinning and roving frames, in combination, roll stands, bearingblocks fixed thereon, bottom drawing rolls made in sections extendingfrom one roll stand to another and terminating within the bearingblocks, universal joint driving connections between the bottom rollsections, and ball bearings resiliently mounted in the bearing blocksfor the ends of the sections.

9. The combination according to claim 8 in which the bearing blocks aremade of resilient material and the bearings are resiliently mounted inthe blocks with capacity for movement with respect to the latter.

10. In a spinning or roving frame, in combination, roll stands, bottomdrawing rolls composed of lengths each one roll section long and meetingat the roll stands, universal joint means connecting adjacent lengths toturn in unison and with their axes disaligned, and a pair ofsymmetrically disposed angular contact ball bearings sup porting therespective meeting ends of such lengths, the ball races of such bearingsbeing resiliently mounted on the roll stands, and resilient washerspressing axially against such ball races and permitting relativedisplacement from coaxial relation of the inner and outer races thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS HansonSept. 11, 1923 Pearson Sept. 11, 1923 Cooper Sept. 9, 1924 Cotchett Mar.12, 194-0 Northway Mar. 4, 1941 8 Austin June 17, 1941 Tarr Aug. 12,1941 Cotchett Sept. 15, 1942 Stott Jan. 18, 1949 Potter Feb. 5, 1952McGhee Apr. 15, 1952 Davis Aug. 2, 1955 Cotchett Oct. 28, 1958 FOREIGNPATENTS Germany June 24, 1954

